228 ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



benefits to the people of the State, and accordingly the State Horticul- 

 tural Board adopted a plan, at the Quincy meeting, Dec, 1875, which 

 has been carried out by their Secretary as far as practicable, in placing 

 the publications in school district libraries, in the various counties in 

 the State ; but owing to the limited number published, it has been im- 

 possible to meet the demand. 



This plan of supplying school district libraries, if it can be carried 

 out, will be effectual in bringing before the great mass of people a work 

 which should be of general interest and a benefit to all, and therefore I 

 trust that the plan adopted may be carried out, as far as the means at the 

 disposal of the Society will warrant. 



My friends, how visible are the changes time is making among us. 

 We observe it in the silvered hairs of the venerable fathers of this Society; 

 we see it in the death-roll of its members, as we come together year after 

 year; we see it in the faces of those who gather in to fill the places of the 

 departed. Soon our labors will be closed and the summons issued to go 

 and dwell in the Garden of the All-wise Creator, where disappointments 

 come not, and the full fruition of hope shall be realized. 



The Committee on Programme reported, as the work of the after- 

 noon, Reports of Committees on Orchard Culture and on Small Fruits, 

 with discussions upon the reports. 



The President called for reports upon Orchard Culture, but none 

 were ready. 



REPORT OF COMMITTIiE ON SMALL FRUITS. 



The following, sent by Wm. A. Nourse (of Moline), was read by the 

 Secretary : 



Cherries. — Early Richmond, English Morello and late Kentish bore 

 nearly full crops. Black Morello, May Duke and sweet cherries were almost 

 an entire failure — possibly in consequence of rains while the trees were in 

 full bloom. 



Raspberries. — A full crop on all sorts. Varieties principally Doolittle, 

 Miami, Mammoth Cluster, Davison's Thornless and Seneca, among long 

 canes ; Clark, Philadelphia and Turner among the Antwerps. 



A new seedling of long cane raspberry has made its appearance in 

 my vicinity, that will, if it keeps its promise, prove very valuable. It is 

 a bright red, in size larger than Mammoth Cluster — about the size of 

 Brinkle's Orange, and of very fine flavor, nearly or quite equal to the 

 Brinkle's Orange ; a remarkably profuse bearer, hanging long on the 

 bushes. It was found in a patch of black-caps, evidently a seedling from 

 them, and perhaps the golden-caps near by. I shall watch its future de- 

 velopment with interest, and hope to be able to report that it is the vari- 

 ety we need. At all events, in my opinion, it is a long way in advance 

 •of the Ganargua for this section. 



A friend of mine reports a black-cap seedling on his ground that he 

 thinks excels all black-caps for sweetness and profuse bearing. 



